variables affecting conformity

Question 1

What was the aim of Asch’s baseline study?

Answer 1

To investigate conformity in an unambiguous task.

Question 2

How many participants were in Asch’s baseline study?

Answer 2

123 male US undergraduate students.

Question 3

What task did participants complete in Asch’s study?

Answer 3

Identifying which line matched a standard line.

Question 4

Where did the real participant sit in Asch’s study?

Answer 4

Second to last in the order of responses.

Question 5

What percentage of participants conformed in Asch’s study?

Answer 5

33.3%.

Question 6

What type of conformity does Asch’s study support?

Answer 6

Compliance.

Question 7

Why did participants conform in Asch’s study?

Answer 7

To avoid disapproval from the group.

Question 8

What happened when only one confederate was present?

Answer 8

Conformity was minimal (3%).

Question 9

What was the conformity rate with two confederates?

Answer 9

12.8%.

Question 10

What was the conformity rate with three confederates?

Answer 10

0.3

Question 11

What happened when the group size exceeded three confederates?

Answer 11

No further increase in conformity.

Question 12

What does Asch’s group size variation suggest?

Answer 12

Conformity increases to a point but then plateaus.

Question 13

What is unanimity in Asch’s study?

Answer 13

When all confederates gave the same answer.

Question 14

What happened when a dissenter gave a different wrong answer?

Answer 14

Conformity dropped to 9%.

Question 15

What happened when a dissenter gave the correct answer?

Answer 15

Conformity dropped to 5%.

Question 16

What does Asch’s unanimity variation suggest?

Answer 16

Dissenters reduce conformity pressure.

Question 17

What effect did increasing task difficulty have?

Answer 17

Conformity increased.

Question 18

Why did conformity increase with task difficulty?

Answer 18

The task became more ambiguous

Question 19

What type of influence explains increased conformity in hard tasks?

Answer 19

Informational social influence (ISI).

Question 20

What study supports the effect of task difficulty?

Answer 20

Lucas et al (2006).

Question 21

What did Lucas et al’s study involve?

Answer 21

Math problems of varying difficulty.

Question 22

What did Lucas et al find?

Answer 22

Greater conformity in difficult tasks

Question 23

What does Lucas et al’s study support?

Answer 23

ISI as an explanation for conformity.

Question 24

What is a limitation of Asch’s study regarding time period?

Answer 24

The study may lack temporal validity.

Question 25

What did Perrin and Spencer find in their replication of Asch’s study?

Answer 25

Only one student conformed in 396 trials.

Question 26

Why might conformity have been higher in Asch’s study than Perrin and Spencer's?

Answer 26

The 1950s was a highly conformist time.

Question 27

What historical event may have influenced Asch’s results?

Answer 27

McCarthyism — a period of political paranoia.

Question 28

Why might Perrin and Spencer's results differ from Asch's due to participant type?

Answer 28

Their sample consisted of engineering students.

Question 29

What characteristic of engineering students may have reduced conformity?

Answer 29

Greater confidence in problem-solving.

Question 30

What is a limitation of Asch’s sample?

Answer 30

It was androcentric (all male).

Question 31

What did Neto (1995) suggest about gender differences in conformity?

Answer 31

Women may be more conformist than men.

Question 32

What did Bond and Smith (1996) find about cultural differences in conformity?

Answer 32

Conformity was higher in collectivist cultures.

Question 33

What does Bond and Smith’s study suggest about Asch’s findings?

Answer 33

Conformity may vary by cultural norms.

Question 34

What is a methodological issue with Asch’s study?

Answer 34

The artificial task lacked mundane realism.

Question 35

Why does Asch’s study lack ecological validity?

Answer 35

The line-judgment task does not reflect real-life conformity.

Question 36

Why should Asch's results be generalized with caution?

Answer 36

Real-life conformity situations are often more complex.

Question 37

Give an example of real-life conformity situations.

Answer 37

Peer pressure to join gangs or drink alcohol.

Question 38

What does Asch’s study demonstrate about independent behavior?

Answer 38

67% of participants resisted group pressure.

Question 39

What did Griggs (2015) criticize about how Asch’s study is presented?

Answer 39

It emphasizes conformity over independence.

Question 40

Why might Asch’s study actually highlight independence?

Answer 40

Most participants resisted pressure in the trials.

Question 41

What is the “Asch effect”?

Answer 41

The tendency to conform in an unambiguous situation.

Question 42

What type of conformity did Asch’s study demonstrate?

Answer 42

Compliance.

Question 43

What was the main reason participants conformed in Asch’s study?

Answer 43

To avoid social disapproval.

Question 44

How does the presence of a dissenter reduce conformity?

Answer 44

It provides social support.

Question 45

Why does task difficulty increase conformity?

Answer 45

People look to others for guidance when unsure.

Question 46

What does ISI explain about conformity?

Answer 46

People conform to be correct in uncertain situations.

Question 47

What does NSI explain about conformity?

Answer 47

People conform to fit in and avoid rejection.

Question 48

Which type of conformity is linked to ISI?

Answer 48

Internalisation.

Question 49

Which type of conformity is linked to NSI?

Answer 49

Compliance.

Question 50

What cultural factor increases conformity?

Answer 50

Living in a collectivist society.

Question 51

What is a criticism of Asch’s focus on male participants?

Answer 51

It ignores potential gender differences in conformity.

Question 52

What is a key takeaway from Asch’s research?

Answer 52

People are often independent despite social pressure.